The results are in for the 2022 Australian Interior Design awards

Soft Serve by YSG Studio

This year's Australian Interior Design Awards recognises the best of design in 2022 and the submissions are incredible!

Offering immense potential and possibility through its authentic, responsive design, Stable and Cart House by Clare Cousins Architects was unanimously awarded this year’s highest accolade, the Premier Award for Interior Design at the 2022 Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA).

This year’s awards ceremony celebrated a return to its traditional schedule, with Australia’s finest and most esteemed design minds attending the gala dinner last night at the Sydney Grand Hyatt. Attendees spent the evening celebrating the resilience and high calibre of the recognised practices and projects.

Marking its 19th year, Australia’s leading industry-based awards program is delivered through a partnership between the Design Institute of Australia and Architecture Media’s Artichoke Magazine. With the hardships of the last two years felt by all, the joy and beauty expressed in this year’s submissions is a testament to the tenacity and creativity of Australia’s interior design industry.

Stable and Cart House by Clare Cousins Architects

Labelling Clare Cousins Architects’ Stable and Cart House “sublime in every way”, the jury applauded the practice for its innate understanding of design, delivering a powerful yet pared back home that considers how people live in a space, and offers a house that will age with honesty and grace.

According to the jury, “Stable and Cart House is the absolute standout project across all categories by clearly being an exemplary piece of work. What resonates most is the authenticity of the design and the way it has been conceived to be lived in not just looked at.” This stunning home was also awarded the esteemed Residential Design Award and the Best of State Residential Design (VIC).

Troye Sivan House by Flack Studio

This year’s Residential Decoration Award was presented to Flack Studio for the striking Troye Sivan House, with the jury commending the practice’s respectful acknowledgement of the building’s architectural history. The jury notes Flack Studio captured a “strong sense of the client’s character through a beautiful curation of art, furniture, lighting and objects in a way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived.”

With 2022 heralding an enthusiastic return to dining, retail and the workplace across the country, the diversity and inventiveness of this year’s commercial projects reflected the undiminishable spirit and creativity of Australian designers. Studio Edwards’ clever and imaginative Finesse Shoe Store received this year’s Retail Design Award, alongside a commendation for the Sustainability Advancement Award, for creating an immersive retail experience with sustainability at its core. The judges observed, “it is a simple project beautifully realised that also manages to convey a sense of ‘urbanness’ relevant to the nature of selling sneakers.”

Laneway Glass House by Brad Swartz Architects and Henry Wilson

Labelling the calibre of this year’s Hospitality Design submissions “incredibly impressive and hard to judge”, the judges declared Studio Gram’s Arkhé deserving of this year’s Hospitality Design Award, and the Best of State Award for Commercial Design (SA). Admiring the project’s seemingly effortless manipulation of space through a clever use of materiality and light, the jury stated, “the highly experiential nature of moving through the interior makes for a gutsy, powerful project.

This year’s awards saw a focus on sustainability across all categories, with the Award for Sustainability Advancement bestowed upon two projects, 17 Union Street from BKK Architects and Clare Cousins Architects and FJMT Studio’s Built Head Office. The jury labelled both projects as truly impressive, remarking 17 Union Street “champions longevity and the importance of thinking about sustainability in regard to long term building use rather than short term compliance,” while applauding Built Head Office for the “amazing innovative solutions” it presents for sustainability at a level that has gained global recognition.

Legato House by ArentPyke

The esteemed Emerging Interior Design Practice was dually awarded to designer Brahman Perera and Pattern Studio, with the jury believing both practices are shaping the advancement of Australian interior design. Launching his own design studio in 2020, Melbourne-based Brahman Perera’s impressive portfolio – spanning residential, hospitality, workplace and multi-residential – saw the jury emphasise his potential, remarking “he has a maturity that demonstrates strong design principles and an individual style that shows both flair and restraint.” Acclaimed on a national and global level, the jury celebrated Pattern Studio’s multidisciplinary portfolio comprised of “strong compositions and a sense of calm, along with beautifully considered details.” The jury believes the considered and forward-thinking designs from both Brahman Perera and Pattern Studio embody the potential and promise of Australian design.